Apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravity



Sept. 6, 1927.

T. FISHER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITY Filed Jan. 14. 1525 Patented I 6, 1927.

UNITED: STATES THOMAS FISHER, or P ILADELPHI PENNSYLVANIA, Assmnoamo rrsnnr. Elven 1 1,641,843 PATENT, OFFICE.

NEERING conrona'rro v, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A conronarron or MARY- LAND.

.APPARATUS'FOR SEPARATINGTJIQUIDS' OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITY.

Application filed January The object of my invention is to improve the construction of an apparatus for separating liquids of different, specificv gravity, particularly water from oils or other liquids lighter than water, and separatejheavi-cr particles from the water and oil prior to the separation of the water from the, oil.;

.A further object of the invention is to construct the apparatus so as to raise the" level of the separated oil, by reducing the from oil;

Fig. 2 lsa sectional planview'on the line 2--2, Fig. 1'; Y

Fig. 3 isa side viewjofa portion f Fig".

1, with the outer casing in section c Fig. 41 is a detached view of the stean coil; .and, 1

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of thetank, in which the heavy particles-. are separatedfrom the water and oil.

r The outer casing 1 can be of any heightand diameter desired." ,A casing 2' is located within the outer casing and is spaced therefrom to form a channel 3, in which is a helical deflector 4. This deflector terminates at the upper end in a vertical section tffiwhich extends past the inlet opening 5 for, the water and oil; The inlet opening is on that side of the deflector thatallo-ws the water and "oil to travel over the inclined surface .of

- so that the operator canlocate the sleeve 13 the deflector. I I I V I As thewater passes down the channel 3, the oil accumulates on the under side of the deflector, which isinclined. This oil travels up the inclined surface to the oil zone f the apparatus. The oil is separated from the incoming oil and water by the vertical section of the deflector. p p

This construction is fully described in the pending application for patent filed by me view of my 1 improved apparatus for separating water with a waste water ,the apparatus.

14, 1925. Serial No. 2,382.

on the 28th day of February, 1924, under Serial No. 695,821.

In order to reduce the area of the oil zone '6, a casing-7 is provided, which is secured to the inner casing 2 in any suitable manner. The under side of the casing 7 is preferably beveled, asshow-n, to allow oil to. pass rcadi ly-to, the oilzone. {The casing 7 is preferably filled with concrete, or other suitable 1naterial,"-and a space Sis provided directly opposite the oil discharge pipe 9to allow for the freeflowof oil to the outlet. In the 011 zone is a steam pipe 10. The steam heats paratus. The pipe is coiled, preferably in the manner shown in F 1g. 4, leaving a free space at the center, for the passage of oil into the space 8, as shown clearly in Fig. ,2.

the oil. sothatit flows freely from the ap 11 for the water that has been separated fro1n the oil. -This outlet pipe communicates p1pe'12 at the bottom of c {it the upper end of the pipe 11 isan ad ustabIe sleeve 13, which can be raised or lowered to vary; the heightof water in the innercompartment 14 between the inner casing 12 and the pipe 11. The sleeve 13 can be ad usted in any suitable manner. In the present instance, a'spider. 15 is shown. which is attached to the upper portion of the sleeve 13. ,The spider has a threaded opening through which extends a screw threaded shaft 16, which is mounted in a bearing on the upper head 17. This shaft 16 is geared to an operating shaft 18 through a'sliaft 19 and gear wheels 20 and 21. On the operatin'g shaft is a hand wheel by which the shaft can be turned. On the shaft is an indicator 22,wh1ch registers with a gauge plate 23 properly. 'In the upper endof the Water compartment 1 1, are vertically arranged the upper channel 2 to the inner channel 14. I

In order to k-eep a water level at all times a water pipe 26 is provided, which Cour maintained at all times. to insure. a full water] level in the apparatus and prevent the accidental How of oil through the water pipe.

In the pipe 26 is a checkvalvc 27, which prevents the back flow of water from the apparatus. i

In order to prevent the passage of foreign matter, which is heavierthan water. to the apparatus, a tank 28 is provided, which is located, preferably, above the apparatus, as shown clearly in Fig. 1; The outlet pipe 29 of this tank is connected to the inlet pipe 5 of the apparatus. 1 i v The water is admitted to the tank from the bilge pump, or ballast pump, through a pipe 30. lVithin the tank is a perforated partition 31 that forms a chamber 32 in which the heavier particles of materialsettle. The water and small particles pass through the perforated partition into the main chamber 33, in which are three partitions 34, 35 and 36. The partitions 34: and 36 actas weirs. The partition 35' extends from the top downwards between the partitions 34 and 36 so that the water and oil must travel in circuitous paths through the tank to the outlet pipe 29 Directly above this outlet pipe is an inclined perforated partition 37.

As the water and oil pass through the tank, any particles, heavier than water, accumulate in the bottom of the tank so that the water and oil are free o f'particles heavier than water when the mixture enters the main apparatus.

I The operation is as follows: Bilge water, or ballast water, carries a certain amount of oil, which must be separated from the water before the water is allowed toflow overboard from the vessel. This apparatus is primarily intended to separate. oil from water. The pumps also discharge a certain amount of foreign matter, which is heavier than water. This foreign matter is first separated from the oil and water to prevent clogging of the apparatus. 7

The water and oil after passing through the tank 28 pass into the channel 3- of the apparatus and flow down through the spiral passage to the bottom of the apparatus. As the water flows downwards, the oil risesto the surface of the water and travels upwards on the under side of the helical deflectors. The oil finally passes onone side of the vertical section l of the deflector and into the oil zone 6. The oil is preferably heated in this zone so as to flow freely from the apparatus through the discharge pipe 9. The water passes from the outer channel 3 through the openings 25 inthe bottomof the: inner casing E and up the channel 14 tothe upper end of the water discharge pipe 11, from which it flows to waste.

Should the flow of water be discontinued at any time, the water line of theapparatus is maintained by water flowing from the pipe 26, which torms, a trap to prevent oil flowing overboard through the waste pipe 11.

It will be understood that my improved apparatus for separating water and oil may be used on land, as well as on a vessel, without departing from the essentialfeaturesof the invention. I

I claim: 4

1. The combination of-an outer casing and an inner casing spaced apart forming an outer channel; a spiral'deilector in the channel terminating in a. vertical section that extends into the lighter liquid zone of the apparatus; a. discharge pipe for the heavier liquid extending within the inner casing and terminating at the lighter liquid zone; an enlargement on the inner'casing forming a lighter liquid zone; an outlet pipe for the lighter liquid at the upper end of said zone; and an inlet pipe for the liquids to be separated below the lighter liquid zone and 011 the upper side of the spiral deflector.

2. The combination of an "outer casing; an inner casing forming an inner channel and an outer channel; an inlet passage for the liquids to be separated, said passage communicating with the outer channel; a

pipe for the heavier liquids communicating with the inner channel, and an outlet for the lighter liquids in the upper end of the outer channel; vertically arranged plates extending into the'upper end of the inner channel which prevent the liquid swashing when the apparatus is used on a vessel or other moving carrier. 1

3. The combination in an apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravity, of an outer vertical casing and an inner casing forming an inner channel and an outer channel; a helical deflector. in the outer channel, said deflector having a vertical section extending to the lighter liquid zone of the apparatus; an inlet pipe for the liquids to be separated communicating with the outer channel on the upper side of the deflector; a, casing, forming an enlargement secured to the inner casing, and reducing the area of the light liquid zone and beveled on its underside the enlargement havinga vertical passage for the free flow of the lighter liquid; and a stcam-coilwithin the light liquid zone betweenthe outer casing and the enlargement, the pipe being separated opposite the passage in the enlargement so as to provide an unobstructed passage.

THOMAS FISHER. 

